Week 8: Bears @ Ravens noon on CBS

[Soul]

18 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

What has Caleb shown to make anyone think he is anything other than a below average QB?

Nothing. Yet.

[gflore34]

19 minutes ago, Soul said:

Nothing. Yet.

I'm willing to give him the rest of this season, if we don't see, at least, some hints at excellency or sustained good play.  The clock will be ticking early next season, don't know if Ben' going to give him all of 2026 for it to finally click.

[jersey cubs fan]

6 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

I'm willing to give him the rest of this season, if we don't see, at least, some hints at excellency or sustained good play.  The clock will be ticking early next season, don't know if Ben' going to give him all of 2026 for it to finally click.

I guarantee that clock is already ticking 

 

 

[Soul]

12 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

I'm willing to give him the rest of this season, if we don't see, at least, some hints at excellency or sustained good play.  The clock will be ticking early next season, don't know if Ben' going to give him all of 2026 for it to finally click.

It’s BJ’s call.  I’m confident enough in his ability as a coach to make the right decision .  I don’t think BJ’s success is tied to Caleb.  If Caleb flames out the team will continue without him.

Edited October 26, 2025 by Soul

[Wilson A2000]

32 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

I'm willing to give him the rest of this season, if we don't see, at least, some hints at excellency or sustained good play.  The clock will be ticking early next season, don't know if Ben' going to give him all of 2026 for it to finally click.

If he keeps playing like this, there will be a legitimate QB battle over the offseason. Or trade Caleb for a 1st rounder or two. The Bears have to have the starter figured out going into Ben’s second year. And if the Bears get eliminated from playoff contention with a few games to go, I’m going to Bagent. This team is too talented on offense to be guided by Caleb’s below mediocre play. 

Edited October 26, 2025 by Wilson A2000

[gflore34]

Next week they'll be facing another not so good defense, from the looks of it, a really bad defense.  I think it perfectly reasonable to expect a good game from Caleb next week.

[gflore34]

Looked at the interception again, didn't look as if Odunze was screened at the time of the interception.  Would like to have seen what happened as broke his route, if I had to guess, I'd say there was probably all sorts of illegal contact.  Which gave the defender time to under cut the throw.  Or, most likely, the throw was late which is in keeping with the crap we got today from Caleb.

Edited October 26, 2025 by gflore34

[We Got The Whole 9]

The JAX game last year and the DAL game this year are really propping Caleb's crappy numbers up. I cant imagine Ben wants to suffer much more of it.

[Soul]

1 hour ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

The JAX game last year and the DAL game this year are really propping Caleb's crappy numbers up. I cant imagine Ben wants to suffer much more of it.

He’s not.  The good news is, BJ isn’t tied to Caleb other than obviously wanting one of his players to succeed.  But in terms of creating a QB controversy or feeling like he needs to make a #1 pick work just because he’s a high pick? I don’t sense that he will let those factors get in the way.

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, Soul said:

He’s not.  The good news is, BJ isn’t tied to Caleb other than obviously wanting one of his players to succeed.  But in terms of creating a QB controversy or feeling like he needs to make a #1 pick work just because he’s a high pick? I don’t sense that he will let those factors get in the way.

Me neither, this isn't a case of the Bears "ruining" a QB, everything is in place for Caleb to succeed.  He's not executing and there's no one to blame but himself.  Ben Johnson appears to be a no-nonsense, will not sugar coat it type of guy, I'm certain in film review and practice he's been on Caleb' ass about his continued failure to execute.

[gflore34]

And, once again, I don't what it is about NFL officiating' inability or unwillingness to call roughing penalties when Bears' QB get blasted.  I really want Ben Johnson to go ape horsefeathers crazy and tee-off on their next no-call.  It's really getting ridiculous that defenders are allowed free reign on Bears' QB's while they get called for glancing the opposing QB's helmet.  Does anyone know if there's some official process NFL teams use to point out bad officiating?  If so, I'm certain the Bears are amongst the top contributors.

[Soul]

1 minute ago, gflore34 said:

And, once again, I don't what it is about NFL officiating' inability or unwillingness to call roughing penalties when Bears' QB get blasted.  I really want Ben Johnson to go ape horsefeathers crazy and tee-off on their next no-call.  It's really getting ridiculous that defenders are allowed free rein on Bears' QB's while they get called for glancing the opposing QB's helmet.  Does anyone know if there's some official process NFL teams use to point out bad officiating?  If so, I'm certain the Bears are amongst the top contributors.

You can write a letter which does nothing.  Or you can be a pest during the games, always in the refs’ ear like that voice in your head that won’t go away.  The latter can yield results.  Squeaky wheel gets the grease.  It doesn’t have to be a big blowup.  It’s more just being the guy who won’t go away.  Watch LaFleur.  He is a master at it.

[gflore34]

10 minutes ago, Soul said:

You can write a letter which does nothing.  Or you can be a pest during the games, always in the refs’ ear like that voice in your head that won’t go away.  The latter can yield results.  Squeaky wheel gets the grease.  It doesn’t have to be a big blowup.  It’s more just being the guy who won’t go away.  Watch LaFleur.  He is a master at it.

Ben needs to adapt that strategy.  It's just out of hand and so one sided, utterly ridiculous.

Getting back to Caleb I wonder how many of the first reads are there that he's missing?  Given most of teammates appear to be doing their jobs I'd say the first reads are available quite often.  Probably 70-75% of the time all Caleb needs to do is one-two-three-plant throw, which is I guess, play on time.  The few times he's done so, he's been very effective, don't know why he can't get back to playing on time.

[Soul]

Apparently the Ravens lied about Lamar’s status and the league is going to look at whether there should be some kind of punishment.

[Soul]

5 minutes ago, gflore34 said:

Ben needs to adapt that strategy.  It's just out of hand and so one sided, utterly ridiculous.

Getting back to Caleb I wonder how many of the first reads are there that he's missing?  Given most of teammates appear to be doing their jobs I'd say the first reads are available quite often.  Probably 70-75% of the time all Caleb needs to do is one-two-three-plant throw, which is I guess, play on time.  The few times he's done so, he's been very effective, don't know why he can't get back to playing on time.

I was just talking with my brother about this.  Both of us feel like there’s a good chance guys are open and Caleb isn’t seeing those guys.  But admittedly I don’t watch game film that much.  There’s solid talent at WR on this team.  And Caleb has enough time.  I’d be shocked if guys aren’t getting open.

[gflore34]

5 minutes ago, Soul said:

I was just talking with my brother about this.  Both of us feel like there’s a good chance guys are open and Caleb isn’t seeing those guys.  But admittedly I don’t watch game film that much.  There’s solid talent at WR on this team.  And Caleb has enough time.  I’d be shocked if guys aren’t getting open.

I was also thinking about Ben' goal of a 70% completion percentage for Caleb which suggests if he plays on time, at least, 70% of time, his first reads will be open. Trust the process and do it.

Edited October 26, 2025 by gflore34

[UMFan83]

9 minutes ago, Soul said:

Apparently the Ravens lied about Lamar’s status and the league is going to look at whether there should be some kind of punishment.

Clearly it had a huge effect as they were defending like it was Lamar out there when it was only Temu Lamar.

[Brian707]

2 hours ago, Wilson A2000 said:

If he keeps playing like this, there will be a legitimate QB battle over the offseason. Or trade Caleb for a 1st rounder or two. The Bears have to have the starter figured out going into Ben’s second year. And if the Bears get eliminated from playoff contention with a few games to go, I’m going to Bagent. This team is too talented on offense to be guided by Caleb’s below mediocre play. 

Bagent blows

Too many meatballs in Chicago 

 

We aren't at the halfway mark of the season

[Wilson A2000]

1 hour ago, gflore34 said:

Me neither, this isn't a case of the Bears "ruining" a QB, everything is in place for Caleb to succeed.  He's not executing and there's no one to blame but himself.  Ben Johnson appears to be a no-nonsense, will not sugar coat it type of guy, I'm certain in film review and practice he's been on Caleb' ass about his continued failure to execute.

"Let’s get right to the moment where everything unraveled. Down 16–13 in the fourth quarter and backed up at their own 4-yard line, Caleb Williams took a shot he doesn’t regret taking — but absolutely regrets how he placed it. He had Rome Odunze flashing across the middle, said he liked the read, and let it rip. But the ball wasn’t outside enough. Ravens corner Nate Wiggins undercut it, picked it at the 18, and Baltimore needed only 47 seconds to punch in a short touchdown drive for a 10-point swing. Game tilted. Belief leaked. And the Bears never recovered.

“It was a good read,” Williams said afterward. “I could have led him farther out in front instead of giving him a shot right here. The DB made a great break. Unfortunate with where we were on the field.”

Head coach Ben Johnson wasn’t as forgiving: “There might have been another option we could have gotten to.”"

https://www.bleachernation.com/bears/2025/10/26/bears-nightcap-1026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNrn6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgKldkKDZRa2uEsVxoOvbXTMOFRb7Poh8aWOHDuknyG9y3Oa4ukj7c4YC62o_aem_dOYEMrlJOnVo2W_GoZy6pA

 

[UMFan83]

I think talking about Bagent is a bit extreme, but it is fair to grade Caleb on an extremely tough scale.  Elite QBs rarely ever make a read like he did on the interception especially with Monangai open over the middle.  (PS checking down seems to be a major issue for Caleb the last few weeks).  If he wants to be an elite QB he needs to not make that decision or throw the ball accurately where only Rome can get it.  He is not accurate at all right now when he has time to throw.  I don't know if it's footwork, trouble seeing over the linemen in the pocket (at lot of his clean pocket throws seem to sail) or he's just not an accurate QB, but he needs to fix it.  I think even he would want to be graded on an elite QB scale.

[Soul]

28 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

"Let’s get right to the moment where everything unraveled. Down 16–13 in the fourth quarter and backed up at their own 4-yard line, Caleb Williams took a shot he doesn’t regret taking — but absolutely regrets how he placed it. He had Rome Odunze flashing across the middle, said he liked the read, and let it rip. But the ball wasn’t outside enough. Ravens corner Nate Wiggins undercut it, picked it at the 18, and Baltimore needed only 47 seconds to punch in a short touchdown drive for a 10-point swing. Game tilted. Belief leaked. And the Bears never recovered.

“It was a good read,” Williams said afterward. “I could have led him farther out in front instead of giving him a shot right here. The DB made a great break. Unfortunate with where we were on the field.”

Head coach Ben Johnson wasn’t as forgiving: “There might have been another option we could have gotten to.”"

https://www.bleachernation.com/bears/2025/10/26/bears-nightcap-1026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNrn6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgKldkKDZRa2uEsVxoOvbXTMOFRb7Poh8aWOHDuknyG9y3Oa4ukj7c4YC62o_aem_dOYEMrlJOnVo2W_GoZy6pA

 

Clearly a disconnect there.  Although to be fair, reading the entire article it doesn’t sound like the two are at odds overall what the problems are.

[We Got The Whole 9]

2 hours ago, gflore34 said:

Ben needs to adapt that strategy.  It's just out of hand and so one sided, utterly ridiculous.

Getting back to Caleb I wonder how many of the first reads are there that he's missing?  Given most of teammates appear to be doing their jobs I'd say the first reads are available quite often.  Probably 70-75% of the time all Caleb needs to do is one-two-three-plant throw, which is I guess, play on time.  The few times he's done so, he's been very effective, don't know why he can't get back to playing on time.

I saw a stat this week showing where each of our top 3 WR rank in separation % and it was something like:

 

DJ - 14th

Zacheus - 48th 

Rome - 116th

 

So he targets the hell out of his classmate, who has sucked at getting good separation, and he's used DJ almost as his 3rd read, inexplicably. 

 

DJ Moore is by far our best receiver and the offense should run through him IMO. 

 

 

[jersey cubs fan]

2 hours ago, Brian707 said:

 

We aren't at the halfway mark of the season

But we are past the halfway mark of Caleb’s career in Chicago 

[UMFan83]

36 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

I saw a stat this week showing where each of our top 3 WR rank in separation % and it was something like:

 

DJ - 14th

Zacheus - 48th 

Rome - 116th

 

So he targets the hell out of his classmate, who has sucked at getting good separation, and he's used DJ almost as his 3rd read, inexplicably. 

 

DJ Moore is by far our best receiver and the offense should run through him IMO. 

 

 

It really is bizarre how DJ is like an afterthought in the offense.  Every time he catches a pass I'm like 'oh yeah, we still have him"

[BigSlick]

I see no need to sugarcoat it: Caleb was brutal. He was bad last week and he was even worse this week. Something is just not clicking. Is it possible he’s just bad? Of course! But I’ll repeat my mantra: he has this job throughout the end of the season unless he hits Justin-Field-week-6-literally-cannot-complete-a-pass-bad. 
 

Anyone calling for Bagent has completely lost the plot. This season is not selling out all the breaks in order to squeak in a 9-8 record and possibly, maybe, slide into the playoffs. If that’s what you want, you’ll never see a championship and the best you can hope for are one-off seasons like 2001 and 2018z This was primarily a season to both evaluate what you have with Caleb and to coach him up. He’s moving backwards. It’s time for Ben Johnson to coach him up. Nobody is getting benched, nor should they. (Again, unless he is so bad he puts up negative passing yardage)